2018 Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Valley Chardonnay, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

This is an excellent value in Napa Chardonnay.  Light golden in color with slight green hues.  The nose is pretty with lemons and grapefruits with a slight smoky char.  Medium bodied with a lovely, slightly oily, but creamy texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Just a  whisper of oak showing.  Nice minerality with underlying chalk.  Nice lemon/lime fruit with good acidity.  Solid finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue to do so for five to seven more years.  It drinks great on its own, but will work well with lighter food, but also salmon or shark.  

2019 Prisoner Wine Company Chardonnay, USA, California, Carneros, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

The Prisoner Wine Company makes, ironically, a "Take No Prisoners" style of wine.  They are lush, big and delicious and make no apologies for their style.  And, why note,  millions of people love them.  This Chardonnay with a touch of Roussanne, and Gewürztraminer) is no exception.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is big with oak coming off as vanilla and crème brûlée, along with some lemon cream.  With air, some baked apple notes emerge.  Full bodied with light oak tannins.  On the palate, this has a lot of oak but enough acidity and fruit to give some balance.  Lots of vanill

2018 Fingers Crossed White, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+

This is my first time trying this producer.  It is a blend of 72% Roussanne, 24% Chardonnay, and 4% Viognier.  Opened and allowed to breathe for an hour prior to consuming.  Delicious.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose shows some toasty oak, roasted almonds, Lemon flan, and slight wax/vanilla.  Yet, for all those oak notes on the nose, it takes a back seat on the palate which has lemons, waxy lemons, and slight ginger notes.  It is a big wine, but not a fruit bomb, more of a presence.  Enough acidity to carry the fruit.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its own, but also worke

2008 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$190.00USD

First time trying this vintage and it is awesome if still young.  I hate to call it elegant as that is not correct, but it is the kind of wine that fans of the "less is more" philosophy of wine will love.  Light silvery/gold in color, clear and bright with a lot of tiny bubbles.  The nose is great with green apples, minerality, slight lanolin and chalk.  But it is not big, just intense.  The palate is similar.  At first taste, it seemed to be missing something, but it has an energy and persistence that keeps building.  Intensity without volume.  The green apple and minerality carry thru to

2017 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Joy Road Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

Another great showing for this Chardonnay.  There is a deft use of oak that is noticeable here, but well done and well within reason.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lemon curd, vanilla and hint of grapefruit.  With air a nice minerality emerges.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is still young but drinking well.  It improves in the glass showing lemon curd with slight vanilla and spice.  Nice balance and structure.  Long finish.  This seems like it should easily do another decade or more.  Great on its own, this will work well with duck, salmon or just a s

2018 Kutch Chardonnay Trout Gulch Vineyard, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

I just love this vineyard (across multiple producers) and Jamie's take on it is excellent.  Light golden in color.  The nose is beautiful with lemons, vanilla, a noticeable (but not overdone) note of toasty oak and slight almond flour note.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is on the bigger side but no bomb.  Great acidity.  Lively with energy.  It is delicious.  Lemon fruit with a touch of toast and vanilla.  Long finish.  This seems like it should easily go ten to fifteen more years.  It went wonderfully with a chopped veggie salad that included asparagus and drinks great on its own.  

2015 Kumeu River Chardonnay Maté's Vineyard, New Zealand, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$54.00USD

Wow.  Even better than the spectacular Hunting Hill!  Still quite young, but with some air, this is wonderful.  Light golden in color.  The nose has lemons, slight citrus, a hint of mineral and tons of minerality.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is big and rich, but then it has so much zing that cuts right thru it.  Layers of complexity.  Grapefruit and lemons over minerals.  Slight green apple on the finish.  This should continue to develop for another five to ten and then drink well for another ten to twelve after that.  It drinks great on its own but will work well with sea food or ev

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